Finance (Industry) BSc Hons at Lancaster University

With strong connections to industry, learning from cutting-edge researchers, and opportunities for internships in the City of London and Shanghai, this course prepares you for a successful career in investment and finance through a perfect balance of academic theory and practical experience.

Learn the practical skills to be a future leader in a challenging, exciting arena vital to the world economy, with ample opportunity to tailor your studies.

Your third-year industrial placement in the financial and investment sector provides you with a positive, practical experience in a graduate role, gaining priceless business skills. You will see how well academic theories work in real-life situations, and gain insight into where your talents and interests lie for your future career.

We begin with the bedrock of finance theory and methodology, and move on to study programming for financial applications, portfolio management, international financial markets, and advanced corporate finance.

Your first year includes Accounting and Finance, Quantitative Methods for Finance and Investment, plus Principles of Economic B. Second-year students learn about Corporate Finance, Financial Engineering, Econometrics and Programming for Finance Applications.

Our careers team will provide you with expert support and guidance in securing a third-year industry placement in a finance role, practically implementing your quantitative skills. Past students have joined companies such as Airbus, GE Aviation, Samsung and The Walt Disney Company.

When you return to Lancaster for your final year, you choose all your modules, from Portfolio Management, Financial Markets, Bloomberg Analysis and Advanced Corporate Finance.

There is the opportunity to study Python, the programming language which is a key component of finance technology, and much of the degree content is relevant and desirable to Chartered Financial Analyst.

Throughout your studies, you are led by academics at the frontier of financial research. Our researchers work on major European projects, including investigating how to apply artificial intelligence to banking, and on the art, precision and effectiveness of factor investing and hedge fund strategies. We have developed strong links with the Bank of England, top asset management companies, financial regulators and economists across the world. Our connections with Invesco allow us to deliver joint-conferences and seminars, providing you with insights from both top academics and industry professionals.

Our Financial Services Careers Hub offer unique opportunities to access the world of finance and to prepare you for a successful career in a competitive industry. Our Finance Careers Coach, with more than 25 years of Financial Services industry experience, delivers a third-year Financial Markets module and supports Lancaster students across the Financial Services industry. We work one-to-one with students, whether you are in your final year looking beyond study or in your first and applying for Investment Banking and Asset Management Spring Weeks.

Our graduates leave as independent thinkers, problem solvers and skilled communicators. Their ability to analyse information quickly and precisely, respond to challenges, and work with others make them highly attractive to employers.

The University will make all reasonable effort to support you in finding a suitable placement for your studies. While a placement role may not be available in a field or organisation directly related to your studies or career aspirations, all roles offer valuable experience of working at graduate level, gaining a range of professional skills.

If you are unsuccessful in securing a suitable placement, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent non-placement degree scheme and would continue with your studies at Lancaster, finishing your degree after your third year. The University offers a range of shorter placement and internship opportunities, for which you would be welcome to apply.